1.75 CE Credits Available
Narrative Family Therapy
by Stephen Madigan
Ollie is a 12 year-old African-American boy who has been court-ordered to therapy after hitting his classmate with his belt. Watch Stephen Madigan, expert Narrative therapist, as he compassionately engages Ollie and his mother in a fascinating inquiry into their experience of racism, discovering there’s much more to this incident than meets the eye.

Beginning with the premise that "the problem is the problem, the person is not the problem," Madigan guides the viewer on an intriguing journey through the foundational narrative therapy techniques such as externalization and re-authoring conversations. By asking a series of purposeful questions intended to help Ollie and his mother “tell their story,” Madigan masterfully shows how to uncover the client’s stance on the problem and how to develop an alternative plot that supports a client’s preferred identity.

With persistence and openness, Madigan validates this family’s experience of racism and helps Ollie regain his “good boy reputation.” This is an exceptional opportunity to engage with the compelling principles of Narrative Therapy and learn how to put these transformational ideas into practice.

What therapists are saying…

In an excellent illustration of a narrative interview, Stephen Madigan cautiously questions an African American mother and her son, making visible the effects of racism. Madigan's narrative map of understanding allows him to be curious and respectful, following the young boy's intention to escape what could perhaps become a "troubled-boy reputation" and affirming his preference to have a "good-boy reputation." This is a video I consistently use in teaching as a demonstration of narrative therapy, of deconstructing oppressive cultural discourses, with questions that closely follow the client.

-- Victoria Dickerson, PhD, author of Who Cares What You're Supposed to Do? - Breaking the Rules to Get What You Want in Love, Life, and Work and co-author of If Problems Talked: Narrative Therapy in Action.
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Madigan shares a refreshing approach to therapy that genuinely honors the individual’s experience. A great tool for learning the theory and techniques of Narrative Therapy, this video is also an exceptional example of how to truly listen to your clients. At the end of this family therapy session, the mother says to Madigan, “I didn’t know we would get to tell the story but it is a true story.” This session reminds us how healing it can be for people to have a space to tell their stories to a concerned and interested listener, and Madigan teaches us how to create that space.

By watching this video, you will:
• Learn how to conduct a therapeutic interview using Narrative Therapy techniques such as deconstruction, re-authoring, and identifying communities of concern.
• Understand the significance of privileging the client’s understanding of the problem and how to do this in an effective way.
• Develop skills for engaging clients in conversations about how socio-political issues such as racism play a role in the problems they are currently facing.
 

Length of video: 1:52:00

English subtitles available

Individual ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-265-4

Group ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-266-2

Group ISBN-13 #: 978-1-60124-266-2

Stephen Madigan, MSW, also holds an MSc and PhD in couple and family therapy. In 1992, he opened the Vancouver School for Narrative Therapy through Yaletown Family Therapy in Vancouver, Canada, as the first narrative therapy training site in the Northern Hemisphere. He hosts the yearly Therapeutic Conversations Conference, publishes widely, and teaches narrative training workshops worldwide.

The American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA) recently honored Dr. Madigan with their Distinguished Award for Innovative Practice in Family Therapy Theory and Practice. The American Psychological Association (APA) has just released a set of six live DVD sessions of his work entitled Narrative Therapy Through Time, and has also published his new book, Narrative Therapy: Theory and Practice.

Dr. Madigan is a "retired" member of Canada's National Ultimate Frisbee Team and the proud father of 15-year-old twin daughters, Hannah and Tessa.

To contact Stephen Madigan, visit www.stephenmadigan.ca. For information about workshop training and scheduling and/or his yearly therapeutic conversations conference, visit www.therapeuticconversations.com.

See all Stephen Madigan videos.

Stephen Madigan was compensated for his/her/their contribution. None of his/her/their books or additional offerings are required for any of the Psychotherapy.net content. Should such materials be references, it is as an additional resource.

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Additionally, there is no commercial support for this activity. None of the planners or any employee at Psychotherapy.net who has worked on this educational activity has relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies.

CE credits: 1.75

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain how to conduct a therapeutic interview using core Narrative Therapy techniques
  • Describe the significance of privileging in the context of the client's narrative
  • Apply skills for engaging clients in therapeutic conversations about socio-political issues

Bibliography available upon request

This course is offered for ASWB ACE credit for social workers. See complete list of CE approvals here

© 1998

Course Reviewed January 2024

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